Politics: Bloglander, Inlanderhttp://www.inlander.com/blogs/Bloglander/
The Inlander is a community newspaper covering news, politics, events, happy hour, everything that's happening today, things to do on the weekend, in Spokane, Coeur d'Alene, the greater Inland Northwest and beyond.en-usCopyright 2016 Inlander. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, Inlander readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact Inlander.editor@inlander.com (Inlander Editor)editor@inlander.com (Inlander Webmaster)Fri, 09 Dec 2016 00:00:01 -0800Fri, 09 Dec 2016 07:00:00 -0800Foundationhttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rsshttp://www.inlander.com/blogs/Bloglander/
Politics: Bloglander, InlanderThe Inlander is a community newspaper covering news, politics, events, happy hour, everything that's happening today, things to do on the weekend, in Spokane, Coeur d'Alene, the greater Inland Northwest and beyond.http://www.inlander.com/imager/b/rss/808579/c731/inlanderFacebook.png144144Not so fast: Document undermines mayor's case to pay for Davenport Grand cleanuphttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/26/not-so-fast-document-undermines-mayors-case-to-pay-for-davenport-grand-cleanup
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/26/not-so-fast-document-undermines-mayors-case-to-pay-for-davenport-grand-cleanupJake Thomas
<img src="http://media1.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/not-so-fast-document-undermines-mayors-c/u/blog/2466717/davenport_grand.jpg" width="660" height="857" />
<br>
A document obtained by the <i>Inlander</i> through a public records request raises questions over the city of Spokane’s claim that it’s legally obligated to make a controversial $318,000 payment to hotel magnate Walt Worthy to cover the cost of environmental clean up at a property now occupied by the Davenport Grand Hotel. <br>
<br>
Earlier this month, <a href="http://www.inlander.com/spokane/promises-and-payments/Content?oid=2457850" target="_blank">members of Spokane City Council expressed concerns</a> that the payment negotiated between Mayor David Condon and Worthy violated the Washington state constitution’s prohibition on gifting public funds to private individuals and businesses.…
NewsPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/26/not-so-fast-document-undermines-mayors-case-to-pay-for-davenport-grand-cleanup?show=comments#readerComments
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Tue, 26 May 2015 15:15:00 -0700InlanderCity Council preps for pot changes, tackles gender inequity and Hookerville returnshttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/19/city-council-preps-for-pot-changes-tackles-gender-inequity-and-hookerville-returns
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/19/city-council-preps-for-pot-changes-tackles-gender-inequity-and-hookerville-returnsJake Thomas
<img src="http://media1.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/city-council-prepares-for-medical-marijuan/u/blog/2462164/screen_shot_2015-05-05_at_2.09.11_pm.png" width="624" height="285" />
<br>
Here's what happened at Spokane City Council last night:<br>
<br>
People who show up to speak at city council's open forum can and will continue to use a derogatory name for a part of town long plagued by prostitution.<br>
<br>
The council passed an ordinance that prepares the city for a statewide phaseout of medical marijuana dispensaries.<br>
<br>
A new task force will look into why the city employs fewer women and pays them less and what can be done about it.<br>
<br>
<b>Hookerville returns<br></b><br>
Two weeks ago, civic gadfly <a href="http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/05/spokane-council-builds-sick-leave-task-force-and-says-goodbye-to-hookerville" target="_blank">George McGrath was rebuked by Council President Ben Stuckart</a> for referring to a pedestrian bridge connecting the University District to East Sprague as the “bridge to Hookerville” during the council’s public comment period. McGrath refrained from using the offending phrase last week.…
NewsPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/19/city-council-preps-for-pot-changes-tackles-gender-inequity-and-hookerville-returns?show=comments#readerComments
http://www.inlander.com/spokane/Rss.xml?id=comments&oid=2462161
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Tue, 19 May 2015 10:32:00 -0700InlanderSpokane Riverkeeper joins lawsuit against new oil train regulationshttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/15/spokane-riverkeeper-joins-lawsuit-against-new-oil-train-regulations
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/15/spokane-riverkeeper-joins-lawsuit-against-new-oil-train-regulationsJake Thomas
<img src="http://media1.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/spokane-riverkeeper-joins-lawsuit-against/u/blog/2459958/oil_train_roy_luck.jpg" width="660" height="434" />
<br>
Clean water advocate the Spokane Riverkeeper has joined a coalition of other environmental groups suing the Obama administration over what they say are inadequate safeguards on potentially explosive oil trains. <br>
<br>
On May 14, Spokane Riverkeeper joined ForestEthics, Sierra Club, Waterkeeper Alliance, Washington Environmental Council, Friends of the Columbia Gorge and the Center for Biological Diversity in filing <a href="http://earthjustice.org/sites/default/files/files/Petition%20for%20Review%20Tank%20Car%20Standard.pdf" target="_blank">a lawsuit </a>against the Obama administration in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals over its new oil train safety standards.<br>
<br>
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Transportation put in place a <a href="http://www.dot.gov/mission/safety/rail-rule-summary" target="_blank">new set of standards </a>intended to make the increasing number of oil trains traversing the country (<a href="http://www.inlander.com/spokane/booming-business/Content?oid=2263619" target="_blank">including Spokane</a>) less likely to derail and explode.…
NewsPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/15/spokane-riverkeeper-joins-lawsuit-against-new-oil-train-regulations?show=comments#readerComments
http://www.inlander.com/spokane/Rss.xml?id=comments&oid=2459954
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Fri, 15 May 2015 10:38:00 -0700InlanderQ&A: Sen. Patty Murray on compromise, the trade deal and abortionhttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/11/qanda-sen-patty-murray-on-compromise-the-trade-deal-and-abortion
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/11/qanda-sen-patty-murray-on-compromise-the-trade-deal-and-abortionDaniel Walters
<img src="http://media2.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/qanda-sen-patty-murray-on-compromise-the/u/blog/2456669/art19022.jpg" width="650" height="488" />
<br>
Last week, <a href="http://www.inlander.com/spokane/the-collaborator/Content?oid=2452786" target="_blank">we published a story</a> about how Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, despite her far-left ideology, has managed to become a unique force of compromise and deal-making in Congress. Here are a few additional selections from the interview. <br>
<br>
<b>On the environment that made Republicans willing to negotiate with her: </b><br>…
NewsPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/11/qanda-sen-patty-murray-on-compromise-the-trade-deal-and-abortion?show=comments#readerComments
http://www.inlander.com/spokane/Rss.xml?id=comments&oid=2456667
1
Mon, 11 May 2015 12:58:00 -0700Inlander[UPDATED] John Ahern, Mike Fagan announce bids for Spokane City Councilhttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/08/john-ahern-announces-bid-for-spokane-city-council-president
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/08/john-ahern-announces-bid-for-spokane-city-council-presidentJake Thomas
<img src="http://media1.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/new-headline/u/blog/2455155/ahern.jpg" width="250" height="188" style="display:block; float:right;" />
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Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart has drawn his first declared challenger in John Ahern, a former Republican state representative. <br>
<br>
Ahern, 80, had filed to run for the seat being vacated by Councilman Mike Allen, but he’s changing course and will file paperwork on Monday to challenge Stuckart, who is seeking a second term as head of the city’s legislative body.…
NewsPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/08/john-ahern-announces-bid-for-spokane-city-council-president?show=comments#readerComments
http://www.inlander.com/spokane/Rss.xml?id=comments&oid=2455154
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Fri, 08 May 2015 09:51:00 -0700InlanderEnvision Spokane draws mayoral candidate to campaign kickoffhttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/07/envision-spokane-draws-mayoral-candidate-to-campaign-kickoff
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/07/envision-spokane-draws-mayoral-candidate-to-campaign-kickoffJake Thomas
<img src="http://media1.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/kai-huschke-envision-workers-rights-campa/u/blog/2454538/dscn1517.jpg" width="250" height="188" style="display:block; float:left;" />
<br>
Envision Spokane held the kickoff for its <a href="http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/20/envision-spokane-files-new-worker-bill-of-rights-initiative" target="_blank">Workers Bill of Rights initiative petition</a>, drawing a handful of supporters that included <a href="http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/04/15/spokane-mayor-condon-draws-first-reelection-challenger" target="_blank">Shar Lichty,</a> the only declared challenger to Mayor David Condon.<br>
<br>
Supporters have until July to collect about 2,500 signatures to get the initiative on the November ballot. If passed, most employers would be required to pay their workers a “living wage” that will be calculated by the city.…
NewsPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/07/envision-spokane-draws-mayoral-candidate-to-campaign-kickoff?show=comments#readerComments
http://www.inlander.com/spokane/Rss.xml?id=comments&oid=2454536
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Thu, 07 May 2015 13:07:00 -0700InlanderWW: The struggle to get vets some weed, D.A.R.E. gets fooled and Tesla's battery potentialhttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/06/ww-the-struggle-to-get-vets-some-weed-dare-gets-fooled-and-telsas-battery-potential
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/06/ww-the-struggle-to-get-vets-some-weed-dare-gets-fooled-and-telsas-battery-potentialJake Thomas
<img src="http://media1.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/ww-the-struggle-to-get-veterans-some-weed-dare-gets-fooled-by-a-fake/u/blog/2453960/weedlogo.jpg" width="660" height="343" />
<br>
Welcome back to <b>Weed Wednesday</b>, your weekly dose of pot news. Wondering what this is about?…
MarijuanaPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/06/ww-the-struggle-to-get-vets-some-weed-dare-gets-fooled-and-telsas-battery-potential?show=comments#readerComments
http://www.inlander.com/spokane/Rss.xml?id=comments&oid=2453956
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Wed, 06 May 2015 15:45:00 -0700InlanderSpokane Council builds sick-leave task force, says goodbye to "Hookerville"http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/05/spokane-council-builds-sick-leave-task-force-and-says-goodbye-to-hookerville
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/05/spokane-council-builds-sick-leave-task-force-and-says-goodbye-to-hookervilleJake Thomas
<img src="http://media1.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/spokane-city-council-assembles-sick-leave/u/blog/2452738/screen_shot_2015-05-05_at_2.09.11_pm.png" width="250" height="114" style="display:block; float:right;" />
<br>
Here’s what happened at the May 4 Spokane City Council meeting:<br>
<br>
People will no longer be allowed to utter the word “Hookerville” at Spokane City Council meetings. <br>
<br>
The city’s legislative body appointed members of task force that will help craft <a href="http://www.inlander.com/spokane/watch-list/Content?oid=2434989" target="_blank">an upcoming earned-sick-safe-leave ordinance</a>, which will include an opponent of the entire idea.…
NewsPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/05/spokane-council-builds-sick-leave-task-force-and-says-goodbye-to-hookerville?show=comments#readerComments
http://www.inlander.com/spokane/Rss.xml?id=comments&oid=2452734
5
Tue, 05 May 2015 15:43:00 -0700InlanderOil train bill headed to governor's desk, some safety advocates still skepticalhttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/01/oil-train-bill-headed-to-governors-desk-some-safety-advocates-still-skeptical
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/01/oil-train-bill-headed-to-governors-desk-some-safety-advocates-still-skepticalJake Thomas
<img src="http://media1.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/trains-carrying-crude-oil-pass-through-spo/u/blog/2450126/dscn1453.jpg" width="250" height="188" style="display:block; float:right;" />
<br>
One of two competing bills that would bring more regulation to the growing number of trains hauling crude oil through Washington state has been has been approved by both chambers of the legislature. Although it’s the legislation supported by Gov. Jay Inslee and local elected leaders in Spokane, it underwent some modifications that one advocacy groups says makes it less effective.…
NewsPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/05/01/oil-train-bill-headed-to-governors-desk-some-safety-advocates-still-skeptical?show=comments#readerComments
http://www.inlander.com/spokane/Rss.xml?id=comments&oid=2450125
0
Fri, 01 May 2015 10:45:00 -0700InlanderCity Council members announce effort to tackle gender and pay inequitieshttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/04/30/city-council-members-announce-effort-to-tackle-gender-and-pay-inequities
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/04/30/city-council-members-announce-effort-to-tackle-gender-and-pay-inequitiesJake Thomas
<img src="http://media2.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/the-three-female-members-of-spokane-city-c/u/blog/2448838/gender_bake_sale.jpg" width="250" height="141" style="display:block; float:right;" />
<br>
The three female members of Spokane City Council had a bake sale yesterday to benefit the Women & Children's Free Restaurant, a nonprofit that serves women and children in need.<br>
<br>
But because I am male, I had to pay a full dollar for my store-bought white chocolate chip cookie. Women only had to pay 78 cents.…
NewsPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/04/30/city-council-members-announce-effort-to-tackle-gender-and-pay-inequities?show=comments#readerComments
http://www.inlander.com/spokane/Rss.xml?id=comments&oid=2448837
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Thu, 30 Apr 2015 09:50:00 -0700InlanderSpokane City Council won't take stance on trade agreementshttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/04/28/spokane-city-council-wont-take-stance-on-trade-agreements
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/04/28/spokane-city-council-wont-take-stance-on-trade-agreementsJake Thomas
<img src="http://media1.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/opponents-of-the-trans-pacific-partnership/u/blog/2447564/tpp.jpg" width="250" height="250" style="display:block; float:right;" />
<br>
Spokane City Council will remain silent on a pair of controversial trade agreements the United States is currently negotiating.<br>
<br>
Last night, the council voted to table a resolution brought by Councilman Mike Fagan that would express opposition to legislation in Congress that would hasten the approval of the <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/trans-pacific-partnership-trade-united-states-china-nafta-324630" target="_blank">Trans Pacific Partnership</a> and the <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-30493297" target="_blank">Trans Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership</a>. Critics of the agreements say they've been written in secret, give corporations too much power at the expense of democratically controlled governments, and will hurt U.S. industries that have already been battered by existing trade agreements.<br>
<br>
After hearing from a parade of people with perspectives from across the political spectrum speaking in support of the resolution, Council President Ben Stuckart, in response to a question from Councilwoman Candace Mumm, said that a council rule prohibited it from passing any resolution or ordinance not directly related to local affairs or municipal business.<br>
<br>
Fagan said that he drafted the resolution after hearing from a broad range of constituents from various political stripes who had concerns about the trade agreements.…
NewsPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/04/28/spokane-city-council-wont-take-stance-on-trade-agreements?show=comments#readerComments
http://www.inlander.com/spokane/Rss.xml?id=comments&oid=2447562
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Tue, 28 Apr 2015 10:55:00 -0700InlanderIn Idaho, resistance to marijuana runs deephttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/04/27/in-idaho-resistance-to-marijuana-runs-deep
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/04/27/in-idaho-resistance-to-marijuana-runs-deepJake Thomas
<img src="http://media2.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/in-idaho-resistance-to-marijuana-runs-dee/u/blog/2444974/news4-1.jpg" width="660" height="439" />
<br>
In our current issue, we wrote about how New Approach Idaho, a group of pro-pot activists,<a href="http://www.inlander.com/spokane/buzzkill/Content?oid=2443889" target="_blank"> is attempting to sidestep the legislature in the Gem State</a> with an initiative that would legalize medical marijuana and decriminalize possession of the drug. <br>
<br>
Although New Approach Idaho has a high bar to clear, it’s probably the only way the state’s pot laws will change because elected officials don’t want anything to do with marijuana.…
MarijuanaPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/04/27/in-idaho-resistance-to-marijuana-runs-deep?show=comments#readerComments
http://www.inlander.com/spokane/Rss.xml?id=comments&oid=2444969
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Mon, 27 Apr 2015 11:02:00 -0700InlanderRead the letter worried future Spokane UW med students sent the Legislaturehttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/04/23/read-the-letter-worried-future-spokane-uw-med-students-sent-the-legislature
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/04/23/read-the-letter-worried-future-spokane-uw-med-students-sent-the-legislatureDaniel Walters
<img src="http://media2.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/read-the-letter-future-spokane-uw-med-stud/u/blog/2444988/news1-3.jpg" width="250" height="173" style="display:block; float:right;" />
<br>
When it came to medical school plans, Washington State University looks to be getting exactly what it wanted from the Legislature. Both the House and the Senate budget proposals give the school <a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/how-wsu-beat-odds-in-fight-to-create-med-school/" target="_blank">the $2.5 million </a>it needs to begin <a href="http://www.inlander.com/spokane/a-second-opinon/Content?oid=2358759" target="_blank">to create a new medical school in Spokane</a>. <br>
<br>
Not the case for the University of Washington. The Senate budget gives UW $2.5 million for medical education in Spokane over the next biennium, but that's a big cut from the $9.4 million that the UW program had been receiving.…
NewsPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/04/23/read-the-letter-worried-future-spokane-uw-med-students-sent-the-legislature?show=comments#readerComments
http://www.inlander.com/spokane/Rss.xml?id=comments&oid=2444977
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Thu, 23 Apr 2015 17:11:00 -0700InlanderCouncil moves toward paid sick leave, changing how mayor's salary is sethttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/04/21/city-council-takes-steps-toward-paid-sick-leave-changing-how-mayors-salary-is-set
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/04/21/city-council-takes-steps-toward-paid-sick-leave-changing-how-mayors-salary-is-setJake Thomas
<img src="http://media1.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/city-council-takes-steps-toward-paid-sick/u/blog/2443585/jonsnyder.jpg" width="399" height="600" />
<br>
Last night, Spokane City Council took initial steps toward passing <a href="http://www.inlander.com/spokane/watch-list/Content?oid=2434989" target="_blank">a paid sick leave ordinance</a> and also voted to put a measure on the August ballot intended to curb rises in the mayor's salary.<br>
<br>
The council voted to form a working group to get feedback from stakeholders on a future ordinance that would mandate that employers offer their workers paid time off to deal with illness or domestic violence. The 12-member working group would be comprised of representatives from businesses, ranging from food service to healthcare, unions, the Spokane Regional Health District and the Spokane Human Rights Commission.<br>
<br>
Spokane is likely to join cities like Portland and Seattle, which already have paid sick leave policies.…
NewsPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/04/21/city-council-takes-steps-toward-paid-sick-leave-changing-how-mayors-salary-is-set?show=comments#readerComments
http://www.inlander.com/spokane/Rss.xml?id=comments&oid=2443581
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Tue, 21 Apr 2015 09:39:00 -0700InlanderIdaho Leg votes to kills historic horse race machines, possibly kills horse racinghttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/26/idaho-leg-votes-to-kills-historic-horse-race-machines-possibly-kills-horse-racing
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/26/idaho-leg-votes-to-kills-historic-horse-race-machines-possibly-kills-horse-racingDaniel Walters
<img src="http://media1.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/greyhound-park-event-center-manager-doug-o/u/blog/2433336/ad080800bfae5a411900a6a23f3dd463.png" width="660" height="374" />
<br>
Today, the Idaho House of Representatives <a href="http://www.inlander.com/spokane/when-a-horse-isnt-a-horse/Content?oid=2405921" target="_blank">voted 49-21 to send a bill</a> to the governor repealing the law that legalized "historical horse race" machines. <br>
<br>
By the end, Greyhound Park Event Center manager Doug Okuniewicz, after arguing that Idaho's "historical horse racing" machines were significantly different than casino slot machines, shifted tactics. <br>
<br>
Okuniewicz began arguing that the machines were <i>so </i>similar to the "tribal gaming" slot-style bingo machines on the Idaho's American Indian reservations, as for the state's ban on <a href="http://legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/IC/ArtIIISect20.htm" target="_blank">imitation slot-machines </a>to apply to both types. <br>
<br>
“We’re either both OK or we’re both wrong,” he <a href="http://www.autoreviewonline.com/blogs/boise/2015/mar/11/greyhound-park-we-were-just-doing-what-we-were-told-we-could-do/" target="_blank">said</a>. “The spinning reels have absolutely nothing to do with the game outcome.…
NewsPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/26/idaho-leg-votes-to-kills-historic-horse-race-machines-possibly-kills-horse-racing?show=comments#readerComments
http://www.inlander.com/spokane/Rss.xml?id=comments&oid=2433318
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Thu, 26 Mar 2015 16:38:00 -0700InlanderOn Bergdahl, Rep. Raúl Labrador straddles a wide partisan dividehttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/26/on-bergdahl-rep-raul-labrador-straddles-a-wide-partisan-divide
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/26/on-bergdahl-rep-raul-labrador-straddles-a-wide-partisan-divideDaniel Walters
<img src="http://media1.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/bowe-bergdahl-formerly-of-hailey-idaho/u/blog/2433306/140601-bergdahl-jms-1627_5df7c34d23abe2641a6d47da874daabe.jpg" width="660" height="440" />
<p>
Typically, the return of an American soldier from enemy captivity doesn't become a bitter partisan issue.
</p> <p>
But the tale of Bowe Bergdahl, former Hailey, Idaho, resident, is not a typical one.…
NewsPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/26/on-bergdahl-rep-raul-labrador-straddles-a-wide-partisan-divide?show=comments#readerComments
http://www.inlander.com/spokane/Rss.xml?id=comments&oid=2433304
1
Thu, 26 Mar 2015 13:09:00 -0700InlanderWashington fire chiefs to railroad company: We want more info on oil trainshttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/26/washington-fire-chiefs-to-railroad-company-we-want-more-info-on-oil-trains
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/26/washington-fire-chiefs-to-railroad-company-we-want-more-info-on-oil-trainsJake Thomas
<img src="http://media1.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/washington-fire-chiefs-to-railroad-company/u/blog/2433253/news3-1.jpg" width="660" height="438" />
<br>
As we <a href="http://www.inlander.com/spokane/big-boom/Content?oid=2428682" target="_blank">wrote in last week’s paper</a>, the Washington State Legislature is currently considering two competing bills meant to address the safety concerns presented by the influx of oil trains passing through Washington in recent years. Spokane, which is the only urban center these trains pass through on their way to western Washington, faces particular risks if one these trains were to derail and explode.<br>
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Each bill would require varying degrees of transparency for rail companies that transport oil through the state so that first-responders would be better prepared in the event of a disaster.…
NewsPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/26/washington-fire-chiefs-to-railroad-company-we-want-more-info-on-oil-trains?show=comments#readerComments
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Thu, 26 Mar 2015 11:15:00 -0700InlanderEnvision Spokane files new Worker Bill of Rights initiativehttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/20/envision-spokane-files-new-worker-bill-of-rights-initiative
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/20/envision-spokane-files-new-worker-bill-of-rights-initiativeJake Thomas
<img src="http://media1.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/envision-spokane-files-new-worker-bill-of/u/blog/2430314/inl_smac_envisionruling082313_2img_0178.jpg" width="586" height="391" />
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Envision Spokane, faced with a protracted legal battle over its most recent attempt to pass Community Bill of Rights initiative, has filed a new initiative for the November ballot that, if passed, would grant expansive rights to workers in Spokane.<br>
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Filed on Tuesday, the initiative would amend Spokane’s charter to include a Worker’s Bill of Rights that includes four key provisions:<br>
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- A guarantee to a “family wage,” to be calculated by the city.<br>
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- A right to equal pay regardless of gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, familial status, religion and other categories.<br>
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- Employers would be required to have a “just cause” to terminate an employee.<br>
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- Lastly, corporations would not have be considered “persons” for the purposes of challenging any provisions in the initiative. <br>
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“There’s momentum around the country for workers to get a decent family wage,” says Brad Read, president of Envision Spokane’s board.<br>
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In 2009 and 2011, Envision Spokane placed<a href="http://www.inlander.com/spokane/a-delicate-proposition/Content?oid=2131444" target="_blank"> far-reaching initiatives </a>on the ballot that would have given greater protections to the Spokane River, given greater protections to workers rights and granted neighborhood councils power over local development.<br>
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The first time around, the initiative was trounced.…
NewsPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/20/envision-spokane-files-new-worker-bill-of-rights-initiative?show=comments#readerComments
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Fri, 20 Mar 2015 13:49:00 -0700InlanderBikini barista initiative fails to make ballothttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/17/bikini-barista-initiative-fails-to-make-ballot
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/17/bikini-barista-initiative-fails-to-make-ballotJake Thomas
<img src="http://media2.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/bikini-barista-initiative-fails-to-make-ba/u/blog/2428505/art15940.jpg" width="660" height="495" />
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A citizen-led initiative that would codify what body parts can be barred in public in Spokane won’t be on the November ballot after it failed to get the needed signatures. <br>
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The initiative was sponsored by Beth Solscheid, who along with other local moms concerned about bikini barista stands in <a href="http://www.inlander.com/spokane/promise-keepers/Content?oid=2418152" target="_blank">town collected over 3,000 signatures to qualify it for the November ballot.…
NewsPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/17/bikini-barista-initiative-fails-to-make-ballot?show=comments#readerComments
http://www.inlander.com/spokane/Rss.xml?id=comments&oid=2428501
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Tue, 17 Mar 2015 12:40:00 -0700InlanderThe State of the City meets Billy Joelhttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/10/the-state-of-the-city-meets-billy-joel
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/10/the-state-of-the-city-meets-billy-joelJake Thomas
<img src="http://media1.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/the-state-of-the-city-meets-billy-joel/u/blog/2425433/mayor-condon.jpg" width="660" height="452" />
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In case you don't have time to watch <a href="https://vimeo.com/121495513" target="_blank">all 44 minutes of Mayor David Condon's State of the City address</a>, which he gave last week at Greater Spokane Incorporated on Friday and<a href="http://www.krem.com/story/news/local/spokane-county/2015/03/06/mayor-condon-delivers-state-of-the-city-address/24512187/" target="_blank"> will give again at other locations,</a> the musical introduction to the speech, set to the melody of Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire," covers a lot of what the city's top executive had to say about police reform, Riverfront Park and other highlights of the mayor's first term.<br>
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“It was just something to showcase in a fun way the highlights of city employees,” says Brian Coddington, spokesman for the mayor. <br>
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The song was sung by David Wolff, who works in the city's IT services. Coddington says that Wolff has sung the national anthem at various events. <br>
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Here it is:<br>
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Politics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/10/the-state-of-the-city-meets-billy-joel?show=comments#readerComments
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Tue, 10 Mar 2015 14:20:00 -0700InlanderCity council halts new cell towershttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/10/city-council-halts-new-cell-towers
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/10/city-council-halts-new-cell-towersJake Thomas
<img src="http://media1.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/city-council-halts-new-cell-towers/u/blog/2425425/celltower.jpg" width="660" height="495" />
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Last night, Spokane City Council unanimously passed an emergency ordinance that places a six-month moratorium on the construction of new cell towers in residential areas of the city - and it’s expected to get the city sued.<br>
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The ordinance was crafted in response to concerns voiced by residents that new towers were popping up in their neighborhoods with little notice and even less recourse if they objected to the structures. <br>
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The newly passed ordinance halts the establishment, permitting and franchising of new cell towers in residential areas (on both public and private property) for a six-month period, during which city council will consider a more comprehensive approach to at Spokane’s technology infrastructure.…
NewsPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/10/city-council-halts-new-cell-towers?show=comments#readerComments
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2
Tue, 10 Mar 2015 09:15:00 -0700InlanderNudists express concerns about bikini barista initiativehttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/03/nudists-express-concerns-about-bikini-barista-initiative
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/03/nudists-express-concerns-about-bikini-barista-initiativeJake Thomas
<img src="http://media2.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/nudists-express-concerns-about-bikini-bari/u/blog/2421531/dscn1432.jpg" width="250" height="188" style="display:block; float:right;" />
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Last night, Spokane City Council considered what to do with a citizen initiative that would specify what parts of the body can be bared in public. <a href="http://www.inlander.com/spokane/promise-keepers/Content?oid=2418152" target="_blank">The initiative was spearheaded by a group of moms </a>who want more restrictions on so-called “bikini baristas,” or coffee stands where scantily clad women (or women not clad in anything at all) serve drive-thru customers coffee, sometimes in plain view of children.<br>
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Guess who showed up during the public comment period to speak against the measure?…
NewsPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/03/03/nudists-express-concerns-about-bikini-barista-initiative?show=comments#readerComments
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Tue, 03 Mar 2015 09:23:00 -0800InlanderAllen not running for city council re-electionhttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/02/25/allen-not-running-for-city-council
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/02/25/allen-not-running-for-city-councilJake Thomas
<img src="http://media1.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/allen-not-running-for-city-council/u/blog/2418268/20150126_201529_hdr.jpg" width="250" height="229" style="display:block; float:right;" />
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Councilman Mike Allen tells the <i>Inlander</i> that he will not seek reelection this fall.<br>
<br> Allen, often considered part of city council’s conservative minority, says that when he ran in 2011 he hoped to create an Office of the Police Ombudsman, find a permanent street-funding mechanism, restore Riverfront Park and other goals.…
NewsPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/02/25/allen-not-running-for-city-council?show=comments#readerComments
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0
Wed, 25 Feb 2015 16:53:00 -0800InlanderLawmakers support police-friendly body cameras billhttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/02/24/lawmakers-support-police-friendly-body-cameras-bill
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/02/24/lawmakers-support-police-friendly-body-cameras-billJake Thomas
<img src="http://media2.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/lawmakers-support-police-friendly-body-cam/u/blog/2417599/axonbodycam.jpg" width="660" height="450" />
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As the Washington State Legislature prepares to conclude its current session, the future of police body cameras in the state could be coming into focus. Lawmakers have allowed a law enforcement-backed bill related to body cameras to clear a key legislative hurdle while letting perish a competing measure supported by the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.…
NewsPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/02/24/lawmakers-support-police-friendly-body-cameras-bill?show=comments#readerComments
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2
Tue, 24 Feb 2015 09:21:00 -0800InlanderSnag hit in mystery retailer dealhttp://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/02/12/snag-hit-in-mystery-retailer-deal
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/02/12/snag-hit-in-mystery-retailer-dealJake Thomas
<img src="http://media2.fdncms.com/inlander/imager/snag-hit-in-mystery-retailer-deal/u/blog/2412407/news5-1.jpg" width="650" height="423" />
A large national retailer that’s considering moving into downtown Spokane is objecting to two conditions the city council has placed on it getting legal rights to a stretch of street. <br>
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The mystery retailer (sources are worried that if they say who it is, it’ll jeopardize the deal) is eyeing the corner of Main and Wall streets for a new location.…
NewsPolitics
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/02/12/snag-hit-in-mystery-retailer-deal?show=comments#readerComments
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Thu, 12 Feb 2015 09:45:00 -0800Inlander